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Firefighters across Southern California were gain the upper hand on new fires that cropped up heading into what forecasters say could be a rainy weekend.
Current active fires: Firefighters were battling flames near Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway, in Castaic and in Ventura County.
What's next: Extreme dry conditions, low humidity and increasing winds make the chances of fires starting and spreading high, although rain is possible over the weekend.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
Firefighters across Southern California were gain the upper hand on new fires that cropped up heading into what forecasters say could be a rainy weekend.
Extreme dry conditions, low humidity and increasing winds made the chances of fires starting and spreading high before the weekend.
Days after the Palisades and Eaton fires ravaged the Los Angeles area — and as crews try to get a handle on the Hughes Fire in Castaic — firefighters were actively working these flames:
Firefighters made quick work of a brush fire that broke out overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning — prompting evacuation warnings along the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass. Within hours, forward progress of the brush fire was stopped at about 45 acres, officials reported.
Evacuation warnings for Bel Air and Brentwood residents went into place early Thursday morning, but have since been lifted.
The fire was still 100% contained as of Friday afternoon.
Firefighters continue to make progress in containing the massive Hughs Fire that broke out Wednesday near Castaic Lake, growing to more than 10,000 acres and forcing mass evacuations.
Thousands of people remain under evacuation warnings even as containment reached 56% as of Friday morning.
For more on the fire, read our story here.
#lagunafire; Forward progress on the Laguna Fire has been stopped as of approximately 11:30am. The fire has been held to 50 acres. Nearly 200 firefighters remain on scene working to mop up remaining hot spots and work to increase containment. The evacuation order for CSUCI has… pic.twitter.com/hbeUPw35rr
— VCFD PIO (@VCFD_PIO) January 23, 2025
A fire broke out near CSU Channel Islands near Camarillo on Thursday morning and eventually grew to about 93 acres. After firefighters said they were able to make progress on stoping its spread, it was at 70% contained by Friday afternoon.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department announced evacuation orders for the university and University Glen as a precaution, although the fire was moving in the opposite direction.
The evacuation order for CSUCI was also reduced to a warning, and no structures were destroyed or damaged by the fire.
Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide
If you have to evacuate:
Navigating fire conditions:
How to help yourself and others:
How to start the recovery process:
What to do for your kids:
Prepare for the next disaster:
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For any World Cup-related festivities, you might want to consider a diverse set of cookies. Lei'd Cookies in Culver City is a one-stop shop for cookies that take inspiration from countries across the globe. One of their owners spoke with Austin Cross, "AirTalk" on Friday host, about their cookies experience.
Flavor inspirations: The Philippines, Mexico, Cuba, Thailand, Morocco and more.
The ultimate Lei'd Cookies experience: Add ice cream to a warm cookie at the Culver City shop or take a group of friends to their pop-up at Smorgasburg L.A., for a more communal experience.
Read more ... to learn more about the bakery and the different cookies we tried.
A cookie business with well over a dozen flavors ranging from Mexican hot chocolate to mango sticky rice? How very L.A.! Lei’d Cookies started as a pandemic pop-up. Nowadays, you'll find them in the Culver City Arts District.
Co-owner Leilani Terris originally thought she'd become a physical therapist. After applying to school, she took a gap year, taught herself to bake and connected with co-owner James Lewis to start their cookie business.
Terris sat down with Austin Cross, who hosts AirTalk every Friday, to explain how their cookies take customers on a bite-sized journey to other countries.
Add ice cream to a warm cookie at their Culver City shop. If you want a more communal experience, take a trip with a group of friends to Smorgasburg L.A., which takes place every Sunday in downtown L.A.
Terris wants customers to get a taste of other cultures. Lei'd Cookies has put a spin on ghriba, a type of shortbread cookie from Morocco, and spicy Mexican hot chocolate.
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A hot, dry winter has led to fires already this year, and experts said Friday at a news conference in Los Angeles that that is projected to continue. Different from previous wildfire seasons, though, is that experts are also closing watching an El Niño.
Fire outlook: Robert Garcia, a U.S. Forest Service fire chief, said that the recent Burro Fire in Angeles National Forest provided “some indicators of what may be ahead in the months ahead” as vegetation starts to dry. The Burro Fire charred 30 acres and burned for about a week in May in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Glendora.
El Niño predictions: The National Weather Service is predicting a 63% chance of a “very strong” El Niño from November to January. It be one of the most powerful since 1950, according to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center.
Read on … to learn more about El Niño and fire season.
Southern Californians could face floods and fires this year.
A hot, dry winter has led to fires already, and experts said Friday at a news conference in Los Angeles that that is projected to continue.
Different from previous wildfire seasons, though, experts are also closely watching El Niño, a powerful weather pattern that causes changes in winds and ocean temperatures.
“California is faced with multiple disasters, whether it be fires, floods, hazardous material incidents,” said Brian Marshall, fire and rescue chief with the California Office of Emergency Services. Marshall said the El Niño “could impact fires and could impact flooding across the state.”
The National Weather Service is predicting a 63% chance of a “very strong” El Niño from November to January. It could be one of the most powerful since 1950, according to the weather service’s Climate Prediction Center.
Heavy El Niño storms could trigger flash flooding and debris flows in wildfire burn scar areas.
The effects of the rapidly developing El Niño on this year’s wildfire season remain uncertain, and experts urged residents to stay vigilant.
“Even very strong El Niño events do not lead to the expected impact everywhere,” according to the Climate Prediction Center.
William Deverell, director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, said more rain can also increase plant growth, which can eventually dry out and create more fuel for fires.
Robert Garcia, fire chief in the Angeles National Forest, said the recent Burro Fire provided “some indicators of what may be ahead” as vegetation starts to dry. The Burro Fire charred 30 acres and burned for about a week in May in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Glendora.
Fire officials advised people to create defensible space around their homes by clearing it of dry vegetation and other flammable materials.
Pre-fire conditions, including the abundance of dry vegetation, were “dominant drivers” of burn severity in the Eaton, Palisades and Hughes fires in January 2025, according to a new study led by San Diego State University in collaboration with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers.
“Regions like Los Angeles … have a lot of human populations who are living closer to these environments that are susceptible to wildfires,” said Madeleine Pascolini-Campbell, a scientist at JPL and a co-author of the study.
Beyond fire prevention, defensible space also helps firefighters enter properties to extinguish flames.
“Wind-driven, ember-casting wildfires moving through a community without defensible space makes it very difficult for us to be able to combat those fires,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime E. Moore said at the news conference. “It makes it unsafe for our firefighters and those that are working hard to protect your home.”
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Los Angeles Unified has renamed two campuses previously named for Cesar Chavez. The move follows a New York Times investigation that found the famed labor leader sexually abused girls and women.
What’s changed: Cesar Chavez Learning Academies in San Fernando is now Arroyo High School, and Cesar Chavez Elementary School is now Oakland Street Elementary School.
How the change came together: The board voted unanimously to rename the schools Friday following town hall meetings and a vote among staff, students and parents at each campus.
The backstory: A March New York Times investigation found survivors of Chavez’s abuse included United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The LAUSD Board voted unanimously a week later to begin a renaming process for the two campuses after a consultation with the schools’ communities.
Read on … to see what other names were considered and what's next.
Los Angeles Unified has renamed two campuses previously named for Cesar Chavez. The move follows a New York Times investigation that found the famed labor leader sexually abused girls and women.
The board voted to rename the schools Friday following town hall meetings and a vote among staff, students and parents at each campus.
Cesar Chavez Learning Academies in San Fernando is now Arroyo High School, and Cesar Chavez Elementary School is now Oakland Street Elementary School.
A March New York Times investigation found survivors of Chavez’s abuse included United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta. The LAUSD Board voted unanimously a week later to begin a renaming process for the two campuses after a consultation with the schools’ communities.
With one exception, none of the other prospective names were associated with specific people.
Previously called: Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academy
Other names considered:
The vote: Arroyo High earned 557 of 1,063 votes, and was the most popular choice among each of students, parents and staff. It’s based on the street where the school is located. (“Arroyo” is Spanish for “creek.”)
Previously called: Cesar Chavez Elementary School
Other names considered:
The vote: Oakland Street Elementary received 211 out of 314 votes, and was the favorite among each of students, parents and staff.
The district has designated $209,000 for renovations associated with the name changes, including changing signs and marquees.
The single largest cost is refurbishing the high school’s hardwood gym floor, which will cost an estimated $120,000. Other significant costs include removing and replacing metal lettering on the front of the high school for $25,000, as well as removing and replacing crash pads and banners in the gym for $30,000.
LAUSD board members can amplify concerns from parents, students and educators. Find your representative below.
District 1 includes Mid City, parts of South L.A. (map)
Board member: Sherlett Hendy Newbill
Email: BoardDistrict1@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6382 (central office); (323) 298-3411 (field office)
District 2 includes Downtown, East L.A. (map)
Board member: Rocío Rivas
Email: rocio.rivas@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6020
District 3 includes West San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood (map)
Board member: Scott Schmerelson
Email: scott.schmerelson@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-8333
District 4 includes West Hollywood, some beach cities (map)
Board member: Nick Melvoin
Email: nick.melvoin@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6387
District 5 includes parts of Northeast and Southwest L.A. (map)
Board Member: Karla Griego
Email: district5@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-1000
District 6 includes East San Fernando Valley (map)
Board Member: Kelly Gonez
Email: kelly.gonez@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6388
District 7 includes South L.A. and parts of the South Bay (map)
Board Member: Tanya Ortiz Franklin
Email: tanya.franklin@lausd.net
Call: (213) 241-6385
Senior editor Ross Brenneman contributed to this story.
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USA is set to face Paraguay today in the first World Cup game to be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
What we know: It’s the second group stage match in the soccer tournament that officially started yesterday. The two teams faced off in a friendly match last year, in which the U.S. won.
What’s it like to get to the game? One of the biggest questions surrounding the local World Cup games is whether it will be easy to navigate to SoFi Stadium. LAist is joining fans from Union Station to see how the journey goes.
Read on … to follow updates from today’s big game.
The U.S. men's soccer team faces off against Paraguay on Friday in L.A. It’s the first FIFA 2026 World Cup game in the United States, which is hosting the tournament with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico.
There are a lot of big questions going into the game, including how easy it will be to navigate to and from SoFi Stadium. For that, we're joining fans from Union Station to see how the journey goes.
The first SoFi Stadium-bound bus left Union Station around 1:30 p.m. while fans cheered its departure. Many were eager to get to the game, chanting “USA!”
Just over four hours before the game, lines were wrapped around the block to get on the Metro bus.
Cristian Vasquez, from the Antelope Valley, was the first person in line for the World Cup shuttles. He said he left home around 9:30 a.m. to line up.
“It’s a service that really helps out the community that probably can't afford SoFi Stadium's parking lot or the existing parking areas,” Vasquez said.
Shuttle fares are the same as usual: $1.75 one-way.
Emily and Mason Allen traveled from Arkansas for the tournament in L.A. and were some of the dozens of riders waiting to board the buses.
The siblings said they were looking forward to cheering on the U.S. team.
“We’re going to win, no doubt,” Mason said.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I can’t be more excited than I am right now,” Emily added.
Jose Caballero traveled to L.A. from Paraguay to cheer on his team. He and his son saved up for the last year to afford tickets.
"Es emocionante. Es algo unico. Es un evento que se ve cada cuatro años y logicamente, las emociones y sobre todo el gran espectaculo que brindan antes, durantes y despues del partido es emocionante," Caballero said.
He said that the tournament is an exciting spectacle that is seen every four years.
Caballero added that he wants to see the Paraguay team win and bring home the World Cup trophy.
LA Metro is the main transit system taking fans to and from the stadium. The countywide transportation agency is shuttling fans from 15 different locations in L.A. and Orange counties to SoFi Stadium, or as it’s known for the duration of the tournament, Los Angeles Stadium.
The shuttles begin hours in advance of the game, with the exact timing depending on the location you depart from. Here's a full guide on getting to the stadium on public transit.
There are going to be more than 100 free watch parties in the city of L.A. at different park locations. It’s part of an initiative called Kick it in the Park. You can find out more about the watch parties here.
Some of the locations are accessible on Metro rail.
Check out the city’s interactive website to learn which Metro, L.A. Dash or other regional transit can take you to the Kick it in the Park events.
This is a developing story.
